Page 71 of Beyond Montana's Sky
“Think, Cai.” She gave him a soft smack upside his head. “Use your famous Driscoll charm. Not thatcharmwill be enough with that particular woman. Mrs. Grayson requires a man of substance. And I’m not talking money.”
“Edith Grayson isn’t the type of wife I need,” he argued for the sake of being contrary despite the lurch of his heart. “Or who this ranch needs. Can you imagine her doing half the tasks you do in one day?”
Fisting her hands, she propped them on her hips, standing with arms akimbo. “She’s exactly the type of wife you need—one to keep you on your toes. As for what this ranch needs…are you planning to put me out to pasture when this hypothetical wife comes around?”
Of course not.Cai opened and closed his mouth like a trout. “No…uh—”
“Did I not train my daughters-in-law and granddaughters to be just as good in the kitchenandthe gardenandthe barn as I am? And I learned from them, too.”
“I would never question the capabilities of the Anderson women.”Not if I wanted to keep my life peaceable. For that matter, if I wanted to keep my life at all. More than one of them is capable of taking a rolling pin or frying pan to my head.
Mormorgave a decisive nod. “Then, when I go to be with the Good Lord or become incapable of managing, one or more of the other women will take my place.”
“True. But I’d prefer you stay around for the next hundred or so years.”
“Mrs. Grayson won’t have to cook and clean and garden and help out with other chores unless she wants to.”
He frowned. “Then what do you expect Edith to do with herself? She’ll be away from town and her friends and family.”
Mormorwaved a hand in an airy gesture. “She can continue to do whatever ladies do with their time and maybe help out in different ways. For sure, she can play the piano, and we’ll be mighty glad to listen. She can teach piano to the children or anyone else who wants to learn. Drill some manners into the young folk. Perhaps teach the girls fancy needlework. Maybe she paints or draws and could teach those skills. Or she’ll keep busy writing letters to all her fancy folk back East. She’ll hopefully make friends with the women here, or at least some. Most important of all—” she poked a gnarled finger into his chest “—she’ll keepyouhappy.”
But would she?He drifted into a memory of their waltz, of how well they moved together.
Mormorgrabbed Cai’s face with one hand, squeezing his cheeks as she’d done when he was a boy and wanted his full attention.
Oww!
“Cai Driscoll. I couldn’t love you more if you were my own flesh and blood. What makes you extra special is your smile—quick and irreverent. When you’re happy, you generate your own light, one that illuminates everyone around you.”
I do?He searched her eyes but saw only sincerity.
“We’ve been sad here since Aurie got so sick, and we all knew we wouldn’t have our sweet girl much longer. As if her death wasn’t hard enough on our hearts, seems like we’ve had a string of painful luck, with little Mack-Ole dying, and Alice losing her lastborn half-way through her pregnancy. Then Matthew-Lars falling off the barn roof and breaking an arm and a leg. Having to put down your stud Lazarus…. We’ve sorelyneededyour smiles and good spirits, grandson.” She released him.
Without taking his eyes off her, Cai rubbed his face, sure he must have bruises.I’ll have to grow a beard to hide them.
“When you met Mrs. Grayson, the change in you was obvious to all but the most thick-headed around here. You still had your grief, but the burden didn’t seem to weigh so heavy on your soul. When she came here that day, you were your old self—teasing and laughing, and even playing the piano again. God willing, Mrs. Grayson will give you a child, maybe several, and they will keep her busy. In my opinion—”
“Please—” he murmured “—don’t hesitate to tell me what you think.”
She grabbed the dishtowel and smacked him on the arm. “Inmyopinion, Mrs. Grayson can sit on a cushion all day and sew a fine seam. She doesn’t have to lift a finger around here, as long as she makes you happy, gives you back your smile…yourlight.” She dropped the dishtowel on the table.
Cai listened toMormor’slong speech—well,lecture—his thoughts spinning and slow hope beginning to rise. He straightened. “But what if Edith doesn’t want to live in Montana?”
Mormorthrew up her hands. “You and your stubborn walls.Think, boy. There’s this modern mode of transportation called atrain,” she said in a sarcastic tone. “Takes you back and forth to Boston in a matter of days. Not like the interminable journey Ole and I and your parents had to take by oxen and wagon. I’ll bet Mrs. Grayson would be willing to live here part of the time, and you could stay in Boston with her the rest of the time.”
He shook his head. “I can’t be away from the ranch.”
She rolled her eyes. “Cai, my husband or any of my sons could run this place just fine without you.”
Her last point left him reeling. Cai held up his hands in defeat. “I need to think on this.”
“You do that. But don’t take too long.”Mormorshook a finger in his face. “Mrs. Grayson is a fine catch. Any day now, one of those eligible Boston bachelors will snap her up. You want babies, don’t you?”
He gave her an automatic nod, too shocked to say anything.
“Once you’ve hooked Mrs. Grayson with your considerable charm, I want you to invite Bear to join you. My grandson needs a wife and babies, too. I don’t want you to return unwed.”Mormorwaved a gnarled finger at him. “You hear me?”
“Loud and clear.”
